2026 Timber stand Improvement Herbicide Treatment- Wakulla State Forest

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is issuing an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for mechanical ground application of herbicide treatment services across approximately 564 acres of timber stand improvement within Wakulla State Forest in Wakulla County, Florida. The procurement involves applying a tank mixture of 64 ounces of Garlon XRT and 32 ounces of Methylated Seed Oil per acre at a minimum rate of 30 gallons per acre using water as the carrier across three separate treatment sites: Site 1 (64.4 acres of longleaf and slash pine), Site 2 (298.2 acres of loblolly pine), and Site 3 (201.3 acres of loblolly pine). Qualified contractors must provide three verifiable references from completed projects of similar scope completed within the last five years, maintain valid certifications and licenses throughout the contract term, and secure comprehensive insurance coverage including General Liability ($1,000,000 each occurrence, $2,000,000 aggregate), Drift Insurance ($100,000 minimum per occurrence), Automobile Liability ($300,000), and Workers' Compensation Insurance with employers' liability limits of $100,000 per accident. Work must commence between June 1 and June 30, 2026, and be completed by August 31, 2026, with all services performed to Florida Forest Service specifications and GPS tracking to ensure a minimum of 95% application coverage. Key deadlines include a recommended site visit period from March 30 to April 3, 2026, written questions due by April 8, 2026, with responses posted by April 10, 2026, sealed bids due on April 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., and public bid opening on April 21, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. via teleconference. The contract period extends from the effective date of the purchase order through August 31, 2026, with the Department retaining the option to renew the agreement for three additional one-year renewal periods, and the award will be made to the responsive and responsible vendor with the lowest Grand Total Price, with liquidated damages of $100 per calendar day applying for delays beyond the fixed completion date.

The solicitation documents do not specify any set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or preferences for particular organizational types. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available materials. The procurement requires contractors to furnish all labor, materials, equipment, and supplies, with equipment removal mandated within three working days if breakdowns occur and operations not permitted to remain idle for more than 48 consecutive hours without approval. Pricing is based on a unit price per acre with an estimated quantity of 564 acres, though the specific budget range or estimated contract value is not disclosed in the provided documentation. A one percent (1.0%) MyFloridaMarketPlace Transaction Fee will be automatically deducted from all state payments. Failure to achieve the minimum 95% application coverage may prohibit the contractor from bidding on future Florida Forest Service projects, underscoring the importance of performance compliance.